Mary Luckhurst

An analysis of the work of Caryl Churchill. The author discusses the social and political context of her works, showing that her political and feminist consciousness drove most of her work throughout her career. She also examines the way in which Churchill utilizes time and space to create non-linear work that is outside the conservative mainstream of theatre. The work provides an interesting perspective on each of the works, and helps put some of her more inaccessible works into a context that makes them accessible. It did not serve to change my mind, however, that Top Girls has some disturbingly anti-feminist ideas and that the women are highly stereotyped just because Churchill (and this author) do not believe that is the case.… (plus d'informations)

Amazon.com: "Twenty performers -- including Willem Dafoe, William H. Macy, and Eve Ensler -- consider the question of how an actor creates a character on stage. A seemingly simple question -- "How do actors prepare for their roles?" -- reveals a surprising diversity of opinions about dramatic training. Should it be more institutionalized or more individualized? Has the film industry helped or hindered actors in their quest to portray characters convincingly? Can a person learn to act well, or is acting a talent one can only be born with? From Luba Kadison, who was on stage during World War I, to Aysan Celik, who was born in the mid-1970s, the actors interviewed by Mary Luckhurst and Chloe Veltman discuss the origins and uses of a wide range of physical and psychological approaches to acting. Some actors pour their energies into researching the era and circumstances of a character's life, some expand their versatility through work with ensemble groups or experimental companies, still others prefer to depend on traditional rigorous academic instruction. And sometimes inspiration comes from beyond the proscenium -- The Who, Martha Graham, opera singer Jessye Norman, and Pablo Picasso are just a few of the artists who have had a profound influence on the actors interviewed here."… (plus d'informations)